Distributor Installation

C

CatMan1

Senior Member
Back in the spring we took the tank out of our ‘28 to clean it. At the time the only way we could get the ignition cable out was to remove it from the distributor and the only way I could see to do that was to remove said distributor from the engine. Please don’t tell me there was a simpler way. Anyway, we’re ready to put the distributor back, but what’s the proper way to do that? I haven’t rotated the engine at all. Do I need to get the engine to TDC first then install the distributor? After it’s installed how to do I fine tune it?
 
You can just put it in place. Turn the rotor until it drops into place. The only way it gets out of time is if you loosen the cam on the distributor shaft. The tang on the bottom of the distributor is offset so it cannot get out of time. You could actually have multiple distributors timed to your engine and swap them without getting it out of time even if you rotate the engine. the key is not to change the cam that opens the points.
 
It will only go back in the correct way because of the offset in the bottom of the shaft. Just reinstall it, no need for TDC. If you feel a need to fine tune it just go through the set timing procedure.
 
midgetracer said:
You can just put it in place. Turn the rotor until it drops into place. The only way it gets out of time is if you loosen the cam on the distributor shaft. The tang on the bottom of the distributor is offset so it cannot get out of time. You could actually have multiple distributors timed to your engine and swap them without getting it out of time even if you rotate the engine. the key is not to change the cam that opens the points.
Click to expand...

Well, then I have trouble. I thought I needed to take it all apart for some reason and I’ve since bought new upper and lower plates to get the points to line up. I should have just sold this car before I took this part on…..
 
Cat Man, Timing is simple. No need to get stressed out. You will need rto know how sometime anyway. Call a Fellow Model A guy in your area to go through it with you. It is a great time to learn and have a beer with a friend. If I was closer I would be right there.
 
I got the distributor back together. Now the car is fighting me as I try to put the distributor back in. The tension in the ignition cable is making it impossible to install the distributor. What’s the trick to this? Also, for some reason the cable is short enough now that the clamp won’t reach the head anymore. Do I really need to clamp the cable to the head?
 
CatMan1 said:
I got the distributor back together. Now the car is fighting me as I try to put the distributor back in. The tension in the ignition cable is making it impossible to install the distributor. What’s the trick to this? Also, for some reason the cable is short enough now that the clamp won’t reach the head anymore. Do I really need to clamp the cable to the head?
Click to expand...

Catman - yes, the cable will put a strain on getting the distributor reinstalled easily. You get it so the big part (around 1” or so) on the base goes in, then rotate the shaft gently until it engages the lower shaft. Then rotate the body until the locator pin on the drivers side of the bottom of the distributor drops in. All the while fighting the tendency of the cable to pop the whole mess out. It might help you to do a practice run with the cable disconnected so you can see how it’s supposed to go, then reconnect and go again.

Remember - it came out, so it will go in.

If it’s not obvious, don’t worry about the clamp to the head stud until the dist is completely installed. Then tease the clamp over the stud. I often need to drive the clamp down onto the stud with a screwdriver to get it seated, as it hangs up on the threads otherwise.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top